Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Herbs
Make Marinade
1 TBSP of fresh catnip finely chopped
1 TBSP of fresh Italian parsley leaves finely chopped
1 large garlic clove finely chopped
1 TBSP of olive oil
1 TBSP of honey
1/2 cup of orange juice
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for one hour.
Preheat oven to 350.
Pour 1-4 TBSP of olive oil into a shallow baking dish.
Top with a layer of sliced onions.
Add a layer of peeled, cored, and sliced apples.
1/4 cup of golden raisins
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Salt and pepper to taste
Top with 1 TBSP of finely chopped catnip and 1 TBSP of finely chopped parsley.
Starting with a whole defrosted chicken , butterfly/spatchcock it (slice down the spine with kitchen scissors or knife to open the chicken up and spread it inside down in your dish). Place on top of your apples.
Salt and pepper to taste
Pour your marinade on top of the chicken.
Bake for 1 hour, until done.
Serve fruit mixture over rice and add the cut chicken next to it. Braised greens or roasted carrots would make a nice side dish.
Nepeta cataria has small white/pink flowers clustered down a stalk. The heart oval shaped leaves are arranged alternately on a square stem. . This plant has its own distinctive strong scent which cats obviously love. It can be confused with other members in the mint family like lemon balm or spearmint. Catnip has more “silver” green leaves which are fuzzy in texture, with a toothed margin and a lighter underside. The stem is also hairy. It can grow 3-4 feet high, especially as it shoots up to flower. This plant has become an invasive species in many ecosystems. You will find it in backyards, wastelands, in grazing areas, along a stream as you hike in urban corridors, or in cracks in the sidewalk. It is a self seeding perennial that likes a lot of sun and does well in poor soil. There is a similar plant in the Nepeta family called “catmint” This herb has purple flowers and much smaller leaves. It is more likely to be a cultivar that found in the wild. All Nepetas have similar properties and uses.
Catnip has been used for food and medicine since ancient times. It contains powerful chemical constituents that are powerful sedatives, pain relievers, euphorics, and aphrodisiacs. No wonder kitties love it. Nepeta moves energy, relaxes the nerves and clears heat. This herb contains many volatile oils. It has such an affinity for the energy of kids, supporting them when they feel feverish, anxious, restless or sick. It is great for babies as a weak tea or bath for colic, teething, insomnia, or crankiness. A hot tea promotes sweating. It is thought to be an excellent remedy for colds, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, childhood illnesses, menstrual problems, headaches, and motion sickness . This plant is has been used for all manner of stomach complaints like , gas, and diarrhea, parasites and indigestion. Externally people have used catnip for pain, injuries, hemorrhoids, acne, dandruff, arthritis, eye inflammation and allergies.
Family: Laminaceae/mint
Parts used:Leaves and flowers
Energetics: pungent, bitter, cool, dry
Element:water
Contraindications:Do not use in pregnancy. Very large doses can cause nausea and vomiting.
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 